[READ FIRST] Saves, CC/Mods or Library items disappeared? iCloud issues
ISSUE Saves One minute your game is working fine. The next you go to play and the Load Game button has disappeared, there seems to be no way to play an existing save. CC/Mods Newly added CC/Mods do not show up in your game despite being properly installed (for help with installing 3rd party content see here) or CC randomly starts disappearing from your game. Library items Saving Lots, Rooms and Households to your in-game Library doesn't work CAUSE Most likely the internal storage on your Mac is too full and iCloud is pushing any newly added files to your Documents folder in the cloud. This can happen at anytime. You can check the storage level by clicking on the Apple in the top left corner of the menu bar then About This Mac, then the Storage tab. By default, the game stores your Saves, Mods, Tray (where your Library items are saved) and all your user game data in a folder called The Sims 4 in Documents > Electronic Arts. If there is no Sims 4 folder in this location the game will recreate a new one each time it is launched. If you have iCloud Drive enabled and set to store your Desktop & Documents folder in the cloud it may be moving your existing Sims 4 folder to the cloud, hence the need to create a new Sims 4 folder every time you launch the game. You can check the status of various files and folders, and what the little cloud icons mean, here. FIX Firstly, you MUST free up some space on your Mac otherwise doing this is pointless. Empty the Downloads folder, go through your data and see what you no longer need, empty the Bin. If you have large Photos, Music and TV libraries consider storing them on an external drive. Instructions here on how to do this for your Photos library, the principle is the same for the Music and TV apps. Open System Preferences and then your iCloud settings. What you click on can vary by macOS, check Apple's help page here if you can't immediately find where to look. This is where you can choose what gets stored in the cloud. We are only interested in two settings, iCloud Drive and Optimise Mac Storage Click on Options... in the iCloud Drive setting and make sure Desktop & Documents Folders is unchecked. Scroll down to the bottom of this Apple help page to understand what happens to your data when you turn off the setting. Back at the iCloud settings window, Uncheck Optimise Mac Storage below the list of apps using iCloud. This means that your Mac will stop pushing files to the cloud when the internal storage is getting full. For more info on this setting read this help page. Once you have successfully stopped iCloud from moving the contents of your Documents folder to the cloud you need to move the Sims 4 folder back into the default location - Macintosh HD > Users > [User] > Documents > Electronic Arts Apple explain here what the status of the little cloud icons mean. If you're feeling brave you could consider creating a symlink and storing your Sims 4 folder on an external drive. Or maybe change your EA App Games Library location to an external Drive.🛠️ Creating a symlink in macOS to store the Sims 4 folder on an external drive
➡️ This is not to be confused with installing the actual Sims 4 game on an external drive. The game installation location is determined in EA App and there is no need to use a symlink for this. As internal storage gets smaller we're forced to use cloud based solutions to store files and folders or resort to a trusty external drive. Cloud based only storage is not an option for the Sims 4 folder that contains all your saves, Mods, Library items and other user data because the game only looks in one place for your data: Macintosh HD > Users > [your user account] > Documents > Electronic Arts > The Sims 4 If there is no Sims 4 folder in that location the game will create a new one. There is no way around this default Sims 4 folder location unfortunately, it is hard coded into the game. Because of this the only option to store the Sims 4 folder on an external drive is to create a symbolic link, otherwise known as a symlink. Creating the symlink is relatively easy provided you understand the concept of what a symlink is and why you are creating it. You should also be familiar with Terminal on your Mac and the security and permission systems in place in whichever version of macOS you are running as these dictate the ability for the game to access the external drive and whether your Mac user account has permission to grant the necessary access. You should also make sure you are using a good quality, fast external drive. You get what you pay for and if you bought a cheap drive, with low quality cables, you will most likely struggle to get the symlink to work because it will be too slow. For help buying an external drive and what to look out for read this guide. I am not going to write step by step instructions here, the post will be far too long. Instead, you can read the detailed and comprehensive guide I wrote several years ago here https://bluebellflora.com/saving-your-sims-4-folder-to-an-external-drive/ If your symlink is not working it is down to user error. It really is that simple. macOS is a Unix based operating system and as such uses Unix commands which are all provided in the above linked guide. This thread is for consolidating all posts related to the Mac symlink process here at Answers HQ. If you're a Windows user read Crinrict's excellent guide here https://crinrict.com/blog/2020/02/moving-windows-documents-folder-to-external-drive-via-symbolic-link.html. What I have provided below are a few of the common issues people face as a result of not entering the commands correctly or having the correct permissions in place. Common issues reported and the solution: Always check your external drive has the correct name in Disk Utility: open Disk Utility (Applications > Utilities) change View to Show All Devices then click on the drive in the left sidebar the Mount Point shows the name of your drive. If there is a number added to the drive name it means the drive has not been properly ejected multiple times Close Disk Utility and eject the drive In Finder click on Go in the menu bar then Go To Folder. Enter /Volumes in the input field and hit return in the /Volumes location, trash the folder(s) that has the same name as the external drive Close Finder, plug the drive back in, open Disk Utility again to check the drive name in the Mount Point. If it matches try to create the symlink In addition to checking the external drive mount point above, the following may also be helpful: Terminal states my access/permission is denied check your Mac user account is an Administrator account and not a Standard account. check that Terminal has access to external drives, also known as Removable Volumes, and your Documents folder. I'm constantly getting "Unable to start... Cannot start because the below file appears to be corrupted" error message make sure the external drive is correctly formatted as either APFS or Mac OS Extended (Journaled). If it isn't, reverse the symlink, reformat the drive in Disk Utility and start again. check your Mods actually aren't corrupted by downloading a compatible version from the creator. I keep getting the error message "Unable to start... The Sims 4 is already running" make sure the external drive is correctly plugged in and mounted. check EA App has access to the external drive in System Settings > Privacy & Security. Give it Full Disk Access if necessary. disable iCloud Drive if the symlink folder in Documents is a white page instead of a folder with the little arrow the symlink has broken. Trash it and attempt to recreate the symlink. Check the Mount Point in Disk Utility shows your exact external drive name and doesn’t have a number added to the drive name. If it does this means your drive has not been properly ejected multiple times. To fix it: eject the drive in Finder click on Go in the menu bar then Go To Folder enter /Volumes in the text field and hit Enter/Return in the Finder window that appears you should see a folder, not a drive icon, with the same name as your external drive. Trash it. plug the drive back in, check the mount point in Disk Utility is the exact drive name with no appended numbers, then try to create the symlink again. if the mount point is still showing a number you have problems with your drive. Consider reformatting it, trying different connector cables, or getting a better drive. Terminal tells me No such file or directory did you copy and paste the command from the guide and correctly substitute the name of your external drive? If you didn't copy and paste you may have used the wrong letters in the command. Copy and paste from the guide. Does the folder you are trying to move or create a symlink to exist in the location you are stipulating in the command? Terminal tells me Directory not empty in Step 1 Is there already a folder on the external with the same name as the folder you're moving? i.e. have you already copied over the Electronic Arts folder? If there is already a folder with the same name as the folder you're moving, Terminal will return this result. Terminal tells me File already exists in Step 2 of the guide Did you correctly complete step 1 or is there still an Electronic Arts or Sims 4 folder in your Documents folder? If the folder is still there you have not correctly moved it in Step 1. If you have iCloud Drive enabled to store your Documents folder in the cloud and Optimise Storage enabled, it will cause issues with the symlink. I strongly advise to disable this iCloud feature otherwise you will have issues, especially if you use Mods. As a reminder, creating this symlink is aimed at people storing their Electronic Arts/Sims 4 folder locally. Using iCloud Drive stores your folder in the cloud and locally. For help with iCloud see this thread https://answers.ea.com/t5/Technical-Issues-Mac/READ-FIRST-Saves-CC-Mods-or-Library-items-disappeared/m-p/10242133
[INSTRUCTIONS] How to troubleshoot and test a broken game
If your game is displaying any of the following behaviours please read on for basic troubleshooting steps: bouncing in the Dock then disappearing EA App minimising after pressing play then reappearing and the game not loading black screen crashing freezing eternally loading freezing sims but time progressing any unusual and unexpected behaviour Repair the game: Make sure the game is not running. Open EA App, click on Library in EA App, then click on the 3 dots in the top right corner of the game and select Repair. Once it has finished repairing attempt to launch the game. If it still doesn't work your next step is to try a clean Sims 4 folder. Testing a clean game: You need to test a fully clean game without any of your current user data. User data are all the files and folders in the Sims 4 folder located in Documents > Electronic Arts. The files and settings stored in this folder make your game unique to you but they can also be the cause of a game not working, typically due to out of date or conflicting Mods, corrupted saves, or other potentially broken files. This screenshot shows the contents of the Sims 4 folder with the most important data highlighted in red: Make sure the game is not running then rename the Sims 4 folder. This can be renamed to anything, just add OLD to the folder name for example. Renaming the folder forces the game to create a new one when you next launch it. None of your user data will be in the new Sims 4 folder the game creates but is still safe in the Sims 4 folder you renamed. Launch the game. If it successfully launches to the main menu start a new save, create a household and place them in-game. If your game has normally been breaking in build or live mode at this point, play for a bit in this new save, trying to reproduce the scenario that your game broke previously. If it starts breaking again create a new thread in the Mac Sims 4 Tech forum or post in an existing thread if you have been directed here for troubleshooting. Make sure you include a clear explanation of when your game breaks, what happens, and what troubleshooting steps you have tried. Screenshots of error codes and copy/pasted text from the most recent lastCrash and LastException files are also very helpful. If your game works in the new save it's time to test the user data in your old Sims 4 folder. We do this in several steps in a precise order to try and narrow down the problem based on the issue you were having. Make sure you have the game fully closed before testing. Delete the new save you just created. COPY a save from the old Sims 4 > saves folder you renamed into the new Sims 4 > saves folder the game has created. Launch the game and attempt to load the save. If it loads great! Quit without saving and move to step 2 and gradually add your user data into the new Sims 4 folder. If it will not load the issue is with the save file. Quit or Force Quit the game, do not save. The save file may be corrupted due to whatever reason, sometimes this can be because your save may depend on specific Mods or CC to properly load. If this is the case download a new copy of the Mod from the creator and put it in the new Mods folder then relaunch the game. If it works great, move onto step 2. If it doesn't work head over to the Mods forum for further help. Start moving the rest of your user data from your old Sims 4 folder into the new Sims 4 folder, removing the existing files and folders the game has just created. You do this in small batches, loading and quitting the game after adding each batch to test the game is still working. Start by adding the rest of your saves then move onto the Tray folder, then add the Options.ini file, then Screenshots, then Recorded Videos, then VideoCameraStates, then Custom Music, then ConfigOverride, then UserSetting.ini, then accountDataDB.package, then the content folder. All other files and folders can be ignored. Lastly, if you are a Mods user, move over your Mods in small batches (the 50/50 method), do not move the entire Mods folder in one go and ALWAYS make sure the Mods are compatible with the current version of the game. Test the game after adding each batch of Mods. If your game breaks after adding a batch remove that last batch, trash the localthumbcache.package file, then add the Mods in one by one, testing after adding each one. When it breaks again you know the issue is with the last Mod you added. Remove it, trash the localthumbcache.package file again then head over to the creator's website for an updated, compatible Mod, if one exists. If it doesn't DO NOT put that Mod back in your game. For further help with Mods visit the Mods forum. !! Mod users - read this: Some Mods also add or replace files in the core game installation. A clean Sims 4 folder will not touch these files. The only way to fix these files back to the Maxis files is to either manually replace them or repair your game. If the Mod adds files to the game installation you must follow the Mod creator's instructions for disabling the Mod which will hopefully remove the files. If no instructions are available either remove them manually, if you know where they are, or completely uninstall and reinstall the game via EA App. Explanation of important files and folders in the Sims 4 folder: Really important folders in red and highlighted in the screenshot above. accountDataDB.package - contains data for in-game events launched by the Sims team ConfigOverride - if you have edited the core graphics files and stored a copy here, your game will default to the system graphics files within the app if you trash this folder or its contents Content - this is where SDX files are stored until the next patch Custom Music - if you have custom music in your game it is stored here Mods - if you play a modded game this is where your CC and Mods are saved and most likely the culprit of a broken game, especially after a game update lastCrash.txt - files that are sometimes created by the game when it crashes. You may be asked for this if a helper/EA is trying to pinpoint the cause lastUIException.txt - sometimes created when the game encounters an error. You may be asked for this if a helper/EA is trying to pinpoint the cause Options.ini - your in-game graphics and UI settings. This should be trashed to test a laggy game to rule out too higher graphics settings Saves - contains all your saves Screenshots - your in-game screenshots when pressing C Tray - contains the files that make up the Lots/Households/Rooms you have saved to your in-game Library UserSetting.ini - in-game account settings, UI settings, tutorial settings. Delete if having Pack Selection setting issues. VideoCameraStates - your in-game stored camera positions (CTRL + 5,6,7,8). Trash this if your camera is jumping around and misbehaving.SIMS_4_V2_PC_CLIENT folder appeared in Mac Home folder
After patching Sims 4 to 1.115.216.1230 this folder has appeared in my Home directory: with the version number at the main menu being correct but [SDK: UNKNOWN] added: There is only one file, appears to be JSON, in the folder and nested folders that contains the following information (I've tidied it up into a more readable format): { "eadp.nexus.connect.grpc.v1": "https://accounts.grpc.ea.com", "eadp.eaid.grpc.model": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com", "eadp.identity": "https://accounts.ea.com", "eadp.identity.proxy": "https://gateway.ea.com/proxy", "eadp.auth.account": "https://signin.ea.com/", "eadp.stats": "https://stats.gameservices.ea.com:11000", "eadp.leaderboards": "https://leaderboards.gameservices.ea.com:11000", "eadp.leaderboards.v2": "https://leaderboards-api-ext.leaderboards.ea.com:443", "eadp.pushnotification": "https://pn.tnt-ea.com", "eadp.realtimemessaging": "https://rtm.tnt-ea.com:9000", "eadp.authentication.useJwtToken": "false", "eadp.candi.offer.service": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com:443", "eadp.candi.offer.v2.service": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com:443", "eadp.candi.catalog.service": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com:443", "eadp.candi.entitlement.v2.service": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com:443", "shadowbroker.grpc.service.subscription": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com:443", "eadp.candi.drm.service": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com:443", "eadp.candi.valuetransfer.service": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com:443", "eadp.candi.valuetransfer.v2.service": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com:443", "eadp.pin": "https://pin-river-grpc.data.ea.com:443", "eadp.candi.firstpartycheckout": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com:443", "eadp.experimentation.grouping.v1": "https://experimentation-grpc.data.ea.com", "eadp.experimentation.grouping.v2": "https://experimentation-grpc.data.ea.com", "eadp.experimentation.tracking.v1": "https://experimentation-tracking-grpc.data.ea.com", "eadp.experimentation.tracking.v2": "https://experimentation-tracking-grpc.data.ea.com", "eadp.playersearch.grpc.search.v1.service": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com", "eadp.mcr": "https://api.mcr.ea.com:4430", "eadp.mcr.query.service": "https://q.mcr.ea.com", "sony.commerce.serviceLabel": "0", "kanas.commerce.serviceLabel": "0", "eadp.instrumentation.service": "https://freeform-river.data.ea.com", "eadp.social.presence.v1": "https://api.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.social.gameinvite.v1": "https://api.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.crossplaycontentmart.v1": "https://api.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.playercard.v1": "https://gateway.grpc.ea.com", "eadp.social.groups.v1": "https://groups.social.ea.com", "eadp.social.groups.v1.GroupNotifications": "https://api.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.um.v1": "https://pin-em-grpc.data.ea.com:443", "eadp.friends.v1": "https://api.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.friends.v1.FriendListNotifications": "https://api.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.friends.notifications": "https://api.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.friendrecommendations.v1": "https://friend-recommendations.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.friends.v1.InviteListNotifications": "https://api.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.social.privacy.v1": "https://api.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.social.privacy.v1.BlockListNotifications": "https://api.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.social.privacy.v1.MuteListNotifications": "https://api.k.social.ea.com", "eadp.chat": "https://rtm.tnt-ea.com", "eadp.chat.tcp": "https://rtm.tnt-ea.com:9000" } Trashing the SIMS_4_V2_PC_CLIENT folder just forces the game to recreate a new one when next launched. I have no idea what the contents of this file are but it looks like some kind of data collection I think? If so, why does it still recreate when I have Share Usage Data disabled in Game Options? Or is it completely unrelated? Should the game be creating data in the User account Home folder? I don't think it should. Or maybe this has always been there but hidden and the latest patch unhid it? I can stop the game creating it by changing permissions on the PROD folder in SIMS_4_V2_PC_CLIENT > 0 > eadp-sdk > persistence to Read Only for my user account (right-click on PROD folder, > Get Info, change to Read Only at the bottom of the info window under Sharing & Permissions).
Cannot start because game data is missing or damaged.
I have been getting the error message "Cannot start because game data is missing or damaged. If you have Mods installed please remove them and try again. If not, please repair or reinstall the game via Origin" ever since the most recent update. I have no mods or CC downloaded. I have gone through the support help 4 times, which involved "repairing," uninstalling the EA app from my mac, uninstalling the sims 4 from my mac, reinstalling them, etc. My game still will not even load. The advisor recommended posting on the forum for help.
Moving Sims 4 game to an External Drive
Hi everyone, I really like playing the Sims and I'm not that tech savvy, please help. I want to move my origin application and my Sims 4 game and files to an external drive and I've been told that all I would have to do is open the Origin application and move the game but I do not have the option to do so. I've tried going to Origin's preference and then going to "Installs and Saves". I have tried to change the location of the game library but my external hard drive doesn't show up. I can't choose another location beyond my user profile's desktop. I have uninstalled my Sims 4 game and restarted my computer and I still don't see the option to move game. I am using a 2017 Macbook Air by the way. Thanks in advance!
saves won't load
I updated the game after not playing in 2 years and suddenly my saves are just gone. I checked the saves folder in the files and they're all still there, they just won't show up in the game itself. instead of "load game" showing up, it's just showing "new game". I tried restarting everything from my back up but it still has the same problem :(
